The Massachusetts House of Representatives is right now taking up amendments on its climate bill. They passed the basic bill already, and it has not elicited praise from environment advocates. Here’s Ben Hellerstein, quoted by State House … [Read more...]

Wednesday night, the Massachusetts House passed an amendment by representative Liz Miranda that would prevent no-knock entry by police warrant if there’s reason to think there are children or people over 65 on the premises. It passed by the … [Read more...]

One of the oldest, and lamest campaign gimmicks is to find some provision of a large, comprehensive omnibus bill; and hold it against a legislator as if that were their own preference. As is happening right now in the Massachusetts House, … [Read more...]

I listened to a Zoom call this am with a handful of veteran consumer advocates who are supporting Ed Markey: Joan Claybrook, who was President of Public Citizen from 1982-2008 Will Ogburn, former Executive Director of National … [Read more...]

This weekend, Gracie's ice cream store in Union Square, Somerville created a special "Green New Deal With It" mint-chip ice cream, in honor of Ed Markey -- proceeds to Black Lives Matter Boston. There was a line ... around ... the … [Read more...]

A fair number of good things made it into yesterday's transportation bond bill passed by the MA Senate. But there was one huge missed opportunity, and amendment to spend a down payment of $350 million on "regional rail" -- expanded schedule … [Read more...]

Six weeks ago, a federal court vacated the permit for the Enbridge gas compressor being built in Weymouth, on the grounds that the beleaguered and under-funded and un-minded Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection didn't follow … [Read more...]

WBUR's Tiziana Dearing did a really useful, timely, informative/baffling interview with former Federal Judge Nancy Gertner yesterday, regarding qualified immunity for police officers. I say "informative/baffling" because the more you know … [Read more...]

Update: Here’s a comment from Adam Chapdelaine, Town Manager of Arlington. As mentioned below, he’s had some recent experience navigating the civil service and collective bargaining systems vis-a-vis police: Two major thoughts on S … [Read more...]